Brake



June .28', 1938. y R. c. RUSSELL 2,122,296

BRAKE n Filed OCT.. 23, 1936 ATTORNEYS Patented June 28,1938

y UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Robert Russell, ishlellghts, Ohio, assignerto Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application'october 23, 1936, Serial No. 107,162

3 claims. (ci. 18s-7s) f and inexpensive construction which will aiord a positive control and a smooth and emcient ac- '10 tion during braking.'

Another object oi.' my invention is to provide an improved brake comprising a friction device and driver operated actuating means therefor,

and having means operable to cause torque re- 5 action from the braking operation to oppose the brake applying force.

Still another object of my invention is to provide aninternal expanding self-energizing brake n having a high degree of controllabillty obtained through the use of means operable to cause the torque reaction of the braking operation to vto apply the brake. v

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an improved self-energizing brake comprising a friction device and a brake applying means, and having meansv adapted to transmit torque reaction in opposition to the applied force in re- 3a spousen to circumferential shifting 'of the friction device.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide an improved brake having a plurality of brake shoes and novel means-for equalizing the brak- 36 ingaction between the shoes.

Still another object of my inventionis to provide an improved brake of the multiple-shoe type' in which the equalizing'means comprises a pivoted member between the adjacent shoe ends and engaged thereby at diilerent lever arm dis-v tances.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentiromv the following 'description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet o! drawings, in which- Fig. l is a sectional view taken through a brake embodying' myinvention and showing the friction device in elevation.

Fig; 2 is a transverse sectional view ofthe brake taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial.sectional view taken'through 'the equalizing means, as indicated by line 3-3 oi Fig. l. n

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken through oppose'the driver. controlled means operating l ingly centered with respect to the inner face of the shoe locating or aligning means, as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a partial 'sectional view illustrating another form of operating connection for the adjacent endsofthe brake shoes, and 5 Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating` another form of brake applying mea/ns. I

More detailed reference will presently be made to the accompanying drawing in describing the l improved brake oi my invention but, before prol0 ceeding with such detailed description, it should vbe understood that the invention is not limited to the particular forms `of \construction hereV illustrated, but may be embodied in various other designs ,and constructions. 15

My improved brake, as illustrated in` Figs. 1 and 2, may comprise a brake drum I0 which is mounted for rotation adjacent a support or backing plate II, and a friction device I2 inside the vdrum for) braking cooperation with the inner 90y surface of the annular drum flange I3. l 'Ihe friction device I2 extends circumferentially adjacent the drum flange I3 and has ends I4 and I5 which cooperate with a combined anchor device and 'brake' applying means I6. 25

,When the friction device is formed by a pair of brake shoes I8 and I9, as in'this instance, the device is articulated'by an operating connection vlocated substantially diametrically opposite the device I6 to cooperate with the adjacent ends 2i and 22 of the brake shoes. The brake shoes themselves may be of any suitable construction, for example, they may be arcuate shoes of substantialLv T-cross section in which the top of the 'T.section is formed by the arcuate flange 23 35 and the stem of the T-section is formed by the web 2li. A brake lining 25 of suitable characteristlcs may be applied to the arcuate flange 23 for frictional cooperation with the inner surface of the drum ilang'e I3 whenr the shoe is pressed 40 thereagainst. l

The shoes of the friction device are supported within the brake drum III so as to have limited circumferential movement therein and are yield- 4.5

the drum iiange I3 by aligning devices 2G. In this instance two such aligning devices are Provided for each shoe and each of `these devicesincludes a headed pin 21 which extends through substantially aligned oversize openings of the backing plate II and theA web 24 of the brake shoe. A compression spring'28 surrounding the 1 pin and engaging one face of the web 24 yieldingly pressesv one edge of the flange 23 against a bearing lug 28'.l A washer 29 locked on the lis pin adjacent its free end provides a retaining means and seat for the spring.

For applying the brake and regulating the action of the shoes of the friction device I provide the combined anchor device and brake applying means I6. While variousforms of brake applying' means may be employed, I show, in this instance, an actuator ofthe hydraulic type. In this device a body 30 having a fluid pressure cylinder 3| therein is mounted on the backing plate II and forms a stop or anchor against which-the end I5 of the friction device acts during ahead braking. The body 30 may be mounted on the backing plate by being provided with' an integral projection 32 which engages in an opening of the plate, and an integral ange 33- A piston 35 is slidable in the'cylinder 3| and cooperates with the end I4 of the shoe I3, which end may extend'part-way'into the cylinder. The.

outer end of the piston 35, may be provided with a plate or bearing member 36 of hardened material which is engaged by a rounded or camlike portion 31'of the shoe end.

Fluid pressure may be supplied to the cylinder 3| through apassage 38 of the projection 32 and a pipe 39 communicating with this passage. The pipe 39 may lead from a uid pressure creating device, such as a pressure cylinder` with which a pedal .or other driver operated member is connected. Leakage of pressure fluid past the piston 35 may be prevented by a sealing disk orfcup 4| held in engagement with the inner end of the Vpiston by a. compression spring 42. Air which becomes trapped in the cylinder 3| may be eliminated therefrom by the provision oi' an escape passage 43 communicating with theextreme top of the cylinder, and a tubular fitting 44 which is normally closed by a screw plug 45. The operating connection between the bearing member 36 of the piston and the cam portion 31 of the friction device may be protected against the entry of dirt and other foreign matter by a cup-like sealing gasket 45 mounted on the outer end of the body 3|) and having an opening which surrounds f and grips the projecting end I4 of the friction device.

When fluid 'pressure is supplied tothe cylinder 3| the piston 35 moves outwardly and presses the shoe I8 against the drum surface.'v During ahead' braking'the drum is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow and tends to carry the shoe along with it. This automatically increases the pressure of the shoe against-thedrum' and pro. duces what is knownfas self-energization. Theoted member. in this instance a 4iev'erlswnicn' is mounted on a pivot pin 49 and extends outwardly between the adjacent shoe ends. The pin 48 is carried by the backing plate I I and extends through a bearing plate 50 with which the lever 45 has sliding engagement. v

- To obtain the desired equalization of the braking action I provide for operation of the lever 48 such that only a portion. for example 50%, of the force exerted against the "lever by the shoe end 2| is transmitted to the shoe I8. This efrect is obtained by arranging the shoe end 2| in inwardly offset relation to the shoe end 22, so that the shoe end 22 engages the lever at a greater distance from the pivot pin 49 and the center of the brake drum than the lever end 2|. The relation between these shoe ends and the e'ective lever arms may be varied to secure the most satisfactory operating conditions. The shoe ends 2| and 22 may be maintained in engagement with the lever." by a tension spring 5| having its ends connected with the respective shoes. Lateral shifting of the shoe ends relative to the lever may be minimized by providing opposite sides' -oi the lever with grooves 52 in which the shoey lever 43 I provide a stop 53 which is engaged by` the lever when the latter assumes the substantially radial position shown in Fig. 1. This stop' may be -in the form of a lug struck up from the bearing Flte 55. l

Reverting now to the combined anchor device. and brake ppiymg means It, it wm be noted 4 that the shoe end I5 `does not directly engage an operating connection to be presently described, and presses the latter shoe against the drumv surface. During ahead braking the shoe I9 also tends to move with the drum thereby producing self-energization of this shoe and causing the end I5 thereof to act against the combined anchor and brake applying device I6.

For transmitting motion from the shoe Ilto the shoe I9 any appropriate form-of operating the braking action to be substantially equalized between the two shoesvand results in more sat- `.isfactory brake performance than has been obtainable heretofore. The operating connection between the shoe ends may be formed by a pivthe body 3l but engages a lever 55 which has an 'intermediate part thereof fulcrumed on a projection 55 of the body. The inner end of the lever l5 is connected with the shoe I8 adjacent the end I4 thereof by a link 51 which is preferably adjustable as to length. The means represented by the lever 55 and the link 51 constitutes an important part of my invention because it functions as an automatic regulating means and serves to transmit torque reactionin a direction to oppose the brake applying force whereby better control of the braking operation is made available to the driver. j In explanation of this function it is pointed out that when the piston moves outwardly of its cylinder, 'as' when the driver presses his brake pedal, the shoe I5 is pressed against the brake drum and, at sub" stantially thesame time, motion is transmitted through the link 51 and the lever 55 to' press the drum.l The'pressing of the latter lshoe againstthe drum by this linkage and bythe self-energizing action derived from the shoe'-I8,""causes it to travel circumferentiallv with the brake drum and this causes the shoe end -|5 to-act tends to draw this end away from the drum vsurassenso jecting inwardly from the backing plate ii The face and at the-same time tendsL to move the piston 35 inwardly of its cylinder..A Such inward movement of the piston opposes the brake amplying force. being transmitted from the driver or the actuating means controlled by This opposing force is very desirable because it increases the brake applying force required to be will not result in sudden grabbing action whichhas heretofore characterized self-energizing:

brakes in general, because torque reaction transmitted through the lever 55 and the link el acts on the lshoe end it to move it away from the drum surface and thus automatically reduces what would otherwise be an excessive 'braking action.

A tension spring Sdactingon the shoe i@ tends to swing this shoe away from the drum surface when the' brake applying force is released, and

the pull of this spring transmitted through the lever 55 and the link El also tends to swing the shoe it away from the s.drum surface. I'The spacing of the brake lining oi the shoes from thedrum Y,

surface when the brake is fully released may be determined by providinga stop against which some portion of the shoe :i8 engages. In this instance the4 stop is in the form of a cani El whichis mounted on the backing plate and has an actuating stem 62 extending therethrough whereby the camV may be adjusted from the exterior of the brake.y

`It is 'not altogether necessary that advantage be taken of the equalizing feature of my inven-l tion and, therefore, in some instances, an operating connection of the turnbuckle-formshown in Fig. 5 of the drawing" may be provided. lThis .modified form of operating connection comprises studs 65 and -86 which have right and left-hand threads andere screwed intoan adjusting nut 61. A tension spring 68 normally holds the shoe ends 69 and 10 against the .studs with the web portions of the shoes engagingin slots of the studs. 'By rotation of the nut 8l the spacing of the shoe ends can be varied to compensate for wear of the brake linings and to alter the operatl ing characteristics of the brake.

I have. indicated above that the actuating means for' my brake may be'other than of thehydraulic type and, in Fig. 6, I have shown actuating means in the form oi' a cam .12 which oooperates with the end I4' of the friction device for pressingv the shoe I B' against the surface of the drum flange I3'. The cam. l2 may be carried by a rock shaft .13 which has operative connection with a brake pedal or some other driver controlled member. y In this modified. form of constructionA the anchor with which the end I6' of the friction de vice cooperatesis in the formof a pin 'N pro- "from the braking operation is transmitted in a direction to oppose the pedal pressure being exerted bythe driver to apply the brake, and that thisuse of the torduereaction provides for 'a more positive and reliable control. as well as a self-regulated and smoother braking operation. It will also be readily understood that the equalizing feature of my improved brake provides for fis -v increased emciency and uniformity of wear by dividing the braking action substantially equally betweenthe two brake shoes.

While I have illustrated and described my improved brake in a somewhat detailed manner, it

should be understood, of course, that I do not l Ywish to be limited to the precise details of construction and 'arrangements of parts herein dis-- closed, but regard my invention as including such changes and-mod ications as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention 'and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a drum, al friction device cooperating with asurface of the drum and having spaced ends, an actuator.1 having a housing disposed between said ends and a member movable in the` housing for applying a braking force to one of said ends. a leverfulcrumed on said housing and having one arm thereof C connected with the other of said ends, and a link connecting the other arm of said lever with said one end of the friction device.

by the other of said ends outwardly of the fulcrum point, andl a link connected with said one end and with said lever inwardly of the fulcrum point. y y 3. In combination, a brake drum, a backing vplate adjacent the drum, a friction device cooperating with a surface oi the drum and having spaced ends, an actuator having a housing disposed between said ends and mounted on the backing plateto provide a stop for the friction device. a member movable in the housing for applying brahng forceto an adjacent end of the friction. device, a lever fulcrumed on said housing and having an arm engaging the other fend of the friction device, and a link connecting the other arm o! the lever with said adjacent end of the friction device.

noma' c. Rossum. es 

